News

Selena Gomez tells Oakland crowd about Hollywood pressure

Compiled by Tony Hicks

Contra Costa Times

Posted:
03/27/2014 02:15:38 PM PDT

Updated:
03/27/2014 02:17:48 PM PDT

Selena Gomez was in Oakland on Wednesday, talking about being pressured in Hollywood.

The 21-year-old singer-actress opened up about struggling with fame to 16,000 students and teachers, while speaking about youth empowerment at the first "We Day California" at Oracle Arena, according to the Huffington Post

"I'm surrounded by people who are supposed to guide me," Gomez said. "And some of them have and others haven't. They pressure me. There's so much pressure. You gotta be sexy. You gotta be cute. You gotta be nice. You gotta be all these things ... They tell me what to wear, how to look, what I should say, how I should be, until recently I had given in to that pressure. I lost sight of who I was. I listened to opinions of people and I tried to change who I am because I thought that others would accept me for it. And I realized I don't know how to be anything but myself."

Selena Gomez speaks about youth empowerment to 16,000 students and educators at the first We Day California at Oracle Arena on March 26, 2014 in Oakland. (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for Free The Children)

But enough about Justin Bieber ...

Gomez got a little choked up before admitting to making some mistakes.

"I'd be lying if I said that I've never tried to make myself better by giving in, because I have," she said. "But I've learned from my actions, and for all the things I've done, I'm proudest of that. I've learned from my mistakes. I want you to know that I know what it's like figuring out what types of friends you have. You are who you surround yourself with."

So Selena Gomez frequently becomes Justin Bieber?

In January, Gomez checked into rehab at Meadows in Arizona for two weeks to deal with "emotional issues," (Bieber). Her rep said her brief stay wasn't about substance abuse (Bieber).